Roadrunner NG says...

I guess I need to run the numbers on it, but my guess is
it won't make sense for what I want to do with it.

Basically, I don't drive much.  My 94 Accord has 59K miles
on it.  But I do drive to the gym every day, which is only
3/4 mile from my house.  And of course these short runs
don't do the Accord any good.  The engine barely gets warmed
up, but the exhaust system doesn't quite.

So my first idea was just to ride a bike to the gym.  But
it's a long, hard, steep uphill trudge to get there, and I
was worn out by the time I got there.  Plus, I was slogging
along very slowly in the right-hand lane on a major street -
three-lanes each way - where the typical speed is 45-50 mph.
And I felt, uh, unwelcome there, and very much at risk.

So in theory a scooter would work for this.  But, I suspect
it would take a long time to save enough gas - only going
1.5 miles a day - to pay for the scooter, particularly if I
also have to buy insurance for the scooter.

Of course I would save the Accord's exhaust system, but
presumably not the timing belt expense if I believe what
everyone says about time/mileage, which, by the way, I
don't, but if I did, it would still be every 6 years.

I assume I'm looking at something like $2000 for the
scooter.  And with that and the insurance, and presumably a
tag, I suspect it isn't going to work financially, even at
$4 a gallon.  But maybe I should also test it at $8.

It's a shame there's no way to avoid a net increase in
liability insurance premium.  After all, I'm the only one
who's gonna drive either the car or the scooter, so in
theory my time and mileage on the road, which puts the
insurance company at risk, isn't increased.  I'll be driving
one or the other for any particular trip, not both.

Thanks for everybody's responses.  Let me know if you think
I'm forgetting to account for any benefit or expense.